Scope and Sequence

This American revolution unit is designed to benefit a variety of grade levels. However, it is geared to 4th grade. I work in a Core Knowledge school in Colorado. I have included the Core Knowledge scope and sequence for 4th grade social studies for the American Revolution. I am including a link to the Core Knowledge Foundation website. I have also included a link to the Boulder Valley (CO) School District website. Boulder Valley also teaches the American Revolution at the 4th grade level. Interested parties may refer to these websites to see what the curriculum involves at the 4th grade level.



URL Address of Boulder Valley (CO) School District - 4th Grade Scope and Sequence - History:
http://bvsd.org/curriculum/Pages/default.aspx

Link to Core Knowledge Website - CK Scope and Sequence Information
http://coreknowledge.org/CK/about/index.htm

Standards Based Education

Colorado Performance Based Standards For Teachers

ACEI Standards

Colorado Model Content Standards -
History

Goals of Revolution Unit / Unit Outline

Title of Unit: The American Revolution

Author: Emily Micucci

Primary Subject: Elementary/4th Grade /American History

Grade Level: 4th Grade (according to scope and sequence of Core Knowledge Foundation curriculum and also Boulder Valley School District, Colorado)

Introduction: (What is this unit about / what is the purpose of teaching it / what will students learn in general as a result of participating in this unit? )
This unit is about the American Revolution and includes information on the background, events, people, places and historical relevance of the Revolutionary period. This is part of the required curriculum for fourth grade at both the Core Knowledge school that I currently teach at, and in the Boulder Valley School District. The Colonial/Revolutionary War period was such a crucial part of American history. The foundations of the USA and American history in general all involve the historical events of this time period. The very documents that govern the United States today were written during this time. It is essential for students to have a strong background knowledge about the American Revolution in order to understand why our country is what it is today. Through this unit, the students will learn about the Revolution, about our country’s beginnings and the relationship of this time period to our life as American citizens today. The students will also learn about the use of educational technology and about cross-curricular topics such as related literacy genres and activities. To summarize, the main focus will be learning important background knowledge about the Revolution, while integrating the latest educational technology into learning.

Unit Objectives - Also, see the Project Ideas Page for further information.

All Students:

• Student will state at least three events/factors in Colonial America leading up to the start of the Revolutionary War.
• Student will be able to give the names and significance of at least five people who lived during this period.
• Student will identify at least four events of the Revolutionary War period in chronological order.
• Student will compare and contrast life in Colonial America during this period to life today, and include at least two similarities and three differences.
• Student will use a blog to create and submit possible test questions.
• Demonstrate effective use of graphic organizers to aid comprehension.
• Student will use a variety of educational technology tools to develop projects and achieve above-mentioned objectives.

Additional Individualized Project-Related Objectives:

• Student will read selections from two different genres about the revolution (i.e. – biography, poem, historical fiction, nonfiction).
• Student will choose a genre and write a piece about the American Revolution (poem, story, article, descriptive paragraph, biography, informative paragraph, historical fiction story, etc.)
• Student will give an in-depth presentation on a famous person from this time period, or famous battles or other events.
• Choose other type of visual, auditory or multi-modality project to demonstrate knowledge of the American Revolution.

Time Required: minimum – two week unit (could go up to three weeks)

Basic Concepts /Skills to be taught:

· Timeline of events
· Famous people
· Roles/contributions of women and minorities
· Background information
· Differences and similarities of life then and now
· Important battles
· Results of Revolution
· Vocabulary terms
· Declaration of Independence (Overview)
· Constitution (Overview)
· Other related topics (To be determined)
· Note-taking skills
· Completion of unit assessment
· Related educational technology skills
· Related cross-curricular skills such as reading & writing genres, finding geographical references on maps, chronology/timeline concepts, historical references to paintings, songs, etc.

Lesson outline:
Lesson 1 Introduction of American Revolution Unit / Blabberize/ Wikispace Overview/ Google Earth Tour of Famous Places
Lesson 2 Project ideas explanation / show examples of projects / rubrics / test questions blog
Lesson 3 Background information on Revolution/Events leading up to the war (Visual, i.e. dipity timeline, bubbleshare, Teacher Tube video - The Shot Heard Round The World)
Lesson 4 Two column notes - overview of daily life /famous people/ battles
Lesson 5 Compare and contrast life then and now. Project ideas due (select from list on Project Ideas page) / Allow students time to work on projects
Lesson 6 In-depth look at famous people from this period (female / male / various ethnic groups/youth); Digital Storytelling
Lesson 7 Famous battles and results of Revolutionary War, Major Battles Podcast, newspaper article widget
Lesson 8 Overview of Declaration of Independence/Constitution/Freedom Blog Page (Patrick Henry's Speech, Animoto, Blog, Teacher Tube videos)
Lesson 9 Review for test using test questions blog and wiki pages/ Review information on Wiki/use flashcards on Wiki
Lesson 10 Assessment for unit
Lesson 11 Catch-up day for students to work on projects
Lesson 12 Projects due / View student projects

Daily Lessons (Geared to 4th grade level)
Lesson 1 Introduction of American Revolution Unit / Blabberize/ WikispaceTitle of lesson: It's Revolutionary!
Description of lesson The students will look at a wikispace about the American Revolution in order to gain background knowledge about this time period, and the people and events that shaped American history. Students will also preview some of the educational technology that is available for use in schools, including a blabberize introduction to the wikispace on the Home page, and widgets that jazz up the site. These new technologies are great motivators for increasing student knowledge and achievement. Blabberize, widgets and wikispaces incorporate visual and auditory input with the use of computers. Also, the wikispace can be shared by people all over the world, and can be accessed from any computer. The students will also take a virtual tour of famous places of the Revolution. This will be done through the Google Earth program on the Student Information page.. This will help provide background knowledge as the students click on each thumbtack to see where different events took place.

Assignment (homework or in-class): Start thinking of possible projects. No assignment today.

Resources/materials needed: All educational technology pieces needed for today's lesson are contained within this wiki. The students will need access to a computer or Smart Board (with projector) to view this. They could take notes on their own in a social studies notebook as they start thinking about aspects of the Revolution that interest them, or types of educational technology that they might want to use.

Lesson 2 Project ideas explanation / show examples of projects / rubrics

Title of lesson: Imagination Station!

Description of lesson: Today we will look at possibilities and expectations of the final projects. Since students learn differently and

have different strengths, we will consider the tenets of multiple intelligence theories.Students will start forming intentions for their projects. They will be able to choose from a variety of technology tools and other project components in order to tap their strengths in various ways. Projects could be visual, auditory or possibly performance based but should incorporate the use of educational technology or computers in some way.Also, the students will need to post at least one test question to the class blog, at least two days before the test date. Using the blog is a way for students to write down items they have been learning in the unit. The blog also helps the communication to be interactive with other students and the teacher. Students will also need to complete a graphic organizer, which they print from a file on this wiki.

Assignment (homework or in-class): Students should write down possible project ideas in their notebooks.

Resources/materials needed: All educational technology pieces needed for today's lesson are contained within this wiki. The students will need access to a computer or Smart Board (with projector) to view this. They could take notes on their own in a social studies notebook as they start thinking about aspects of the Revolution that interest them, or types of educational technology that they might want to use.

Lesson 3 Background information on Revolution/Events leading up to the war (Visual, i.e. dippity timeline)

Title of lesson: Fill Me In!

Description of lesson: We will discuss the background of colonial life and events leading up to the start of the American Revolution. We will use the Amer. Rev. Background Info page. Students will look at a variety of information on the wikispace, including the timeline by dipity. This is a great Web 2.0 technological tool because you can see artists' renditions of the events leading up to the Revolution, set in a timeline format. Students will be able to make their own timelines if they choose this as a project idea.

Assignment (homework or in-class): listen and take notes: backgound information. Think of project ideas and work on them.

Resources/materials needed: student notebooks, pencils, computer, Smart Board, projector, this website,

Lesson 4 Two column notes - overview of daily life /famous people/ battles /time to work on projects

Title of lesson: Note-Worthy Facts

Description of lesson: The teacher and students will use the Smart Board screen (or overhead projector) to write two-column notes about important people, events, ways of life, occupations, etc. during the American Revolution time period. The students will then be given time to work on their projects.

Assignment (homework or in-class): Take notes then work on individual projects.

Resources/materials needed: Two column note paper or spiral notebook, pencils, erasers, Smart Board or overhead, projector, computer, this website

Lesson 5 Compare and contrast life then and now. Project ideas due (select from list on Project Ideas page) / Allow students time to work on projects

Title of lesson: And You Think You Have It Rough!

Description of lesson: Students will identify projects they will be doing. Next, students will compare and contrast life in the 1700's with their life now. They will use a graphic organizer for this.When they are done, they may work on their projects.

Assignment (homework or in-class): Work on paper/pencil graphic organizer. Teacher demonstrates on the board.

Resources/materials needed: one Venn Diagram graphic organizer per student, pencils, website, computer, Smart Board, projector, individual project materials

Lesson 6 In-depth look at famous people from this period (female / male / various ethnic groups/youth)

Title of lesson: Famous People

Description of lesson: Students will use various Web 2.0 technology tools to learn about some of the people who lived during this time period. One of the techniques used is Digital Storytelling. The story of the teenager, Sybil Ludington, is brought to life. Students can learn how to make biographical clips, or use their own pictures to make their own autobiography or story, using the Photostory tools to create the Digital Story. This example can be found on the Amer. Rev. Background Info page.

Assignment (homework or in-class): They will take notes on famous people in their spiral notebooks, or on a word document (depending on the availability of individual computers). Work on projects for homework.

Resources/materials needed: website, computer, Smart Board, projector, pencils, notebooks, headphones if making digital story

Lesson 7 Famous battles and results of Revolutionary War

Title of lesson: What's All This Fighting For?

Description of lesson: Student's will learn of the various American Revolution battles and locations of these. The emphasis is more geared to understanding the significance/happenings of the battles, and identifying locations on a map, rather than solely on memorizing facts such as dates, generals, etc. Studying the battles will give the students an insight to how difficult it was for these early Americans to win the freedom that we have today. Students will be able to listen to a podcast about some of the major battles in the Revolutionary War (also known as the War of Independence). This is on the Amer. Rev. Background Info page. Also, students will get a geographical insight into locations of importance. This Google Earth battle site presentation is found on the Student Information page. A map can be found on the Differentiation & Cross-Curricular Ideas page. Students will also look at a teacher-created newspaper article about the birth of our country. This type of newspaper could be devised by students as one of their project ideas. This is on the Amer. Rev. Background Info page.

Assignment (homework or in-class): In class discussion; work on projects for homework

Resources/materials needed: student notebooks, pencils, computer, Smart Board, projector, this website, headphones if students will make podcasts

Lesson 8 Overview of Declaration of Independence/Constitution

Title of lesson: With Liberty And Justice For All!
Description of lesson Students will use various technological tools and portions of the wikispace to learn the important tenets of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. (The students will not go in-depth on the Constitution at this time.) There is a speech by Patrrick Henry, created through readthewords.com. on the Freedom Blog page. This technology tool was originally designed for students with learning disabilities, to assist with learning to read. In addition, the students will look at a brief Animoto video on the Freedom Blog page to help them conceptualize what freedom is, and what the price of it is. The actual Freedom Blog is another part of this lesson. Students will be encouraged to read the blog and write down their thoughts on the matter. The beauty of blogs is that students are reading and writing, but in a nontraditional way, as they become more technologically proficient.
Assignment (homework or in-class): Today's lesson is mainly oral discussion of various pages on this Wiki. The students may take notes.

Resources/materials needed: notebook, pencils, this wikispace, computers, Smart Board, projector


Lesson 9 Review for test/ Review information on Wiki/use flashcards on Wiki
Title of lesson: Tell Me More! Tell Me More!
Description of lesson: Students will review wikispace and various technological tools in order to review for tomorrow's test. Students will orally generate possible test questions, and will look at the Test Questions Blog page.
Students will also use flashcards from Flash Card Machine to study for the test.

Assignment (homework or in-class): Study for test.

Resources/materials needed: computers, Smart Board (if available), projector, this Wikispace containing American Revolution information and technology tools, student notebooks or study guides, pencils, erasers

Lesson 10 Assessment for unit

Title of lesson: Show What You Know!

Description of lesson: Students will take a paper/pencil test on the American Revolution.

Assignment (homework or in-class): Take test.

Resources/materials needed: individual paper copies of test, study guides or notes as allowed for students with accommodations or modifications, pencils, erasers, book to read when finished

Lesson 11 Catch-up day for students to work on projects

Title of lesson: Mustard and Catch-Up
Description of lesson: Students can use today to put the finishing touches on their projects and presentations. They can spice-up what they already have (like spicy mustard adds to a sandwich) and they can"catch up" on project portions they are behind on. If they are completely finished, they could work on making a banner for tomorrow's presentation, or read one of the books about the American Revolution.

Assignment (homework or in-class): Work on projects. What is not finished will need to be finished at home for homework.

Resources/materials needed: Each student needs to bring their individual materials. Certain standard materials will be provided by the teacher such as scissors, glue, construction paper, printer paper, pens, pencils, markers and crayons.

Lesson 12 Projects due / View student projects

Title of lesson: Patriots Unite and Celebrate!

Description of lesson Today is the day we celebrate the students' achievements. Students will share their projects with their classmates, parents, and possibly other students from the school. Dressing as a person from the time of the Revolution will add to the fun! Additional ideas: Patriots Celebration: Students may dress up as someone from the Revolutionary Period. Parents could be invited. Displays could be set up, or presentations could be done in class. Refreshments could be served. (Perhaps parents could bring recipes or foods associated with that time period.)

Assignment (homework or in-class): Oral/Visual/Technological Presentations - in class

Resources/materials needed: Each student needs to bring the individual project materials needed for the presentation.

Additional related historical fiction lessons for writing - American Revolution:

Historical Fiction/American Revolution Lesson Plan (Developed by Emily Micucci in July, 2008 for Metro State Course - Teaching of Writing)

new lesson plan format.doc

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